District Vision

Student Success!

District Mission

To promote character and competence in a positive learning culture that ensures success and inspires purpose for ALL.

Values

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Integrity

• Leadership
• Excellence
• Safety

Our History

From the beginning, settlers in Southwest Florida recognized a need for education. Young men and women motivated to educate the community's children took on the role of teaching children in town halls and churches. As the community grew, so did our history. The following table outlines the district's growth over the last 127 years.

While you are reading up on our heritage, why not take a look at our future by viewing our 5 Year Work Plan.

1888

Classes outgrow the community hall and the first building is designated as a school at the corner of Marion & Harvey Streets in Punta Gorda.

1893

The first school for African Americans is formed. After an organized search, Benjamin Joshua Baker agrees to be its principal and relocates from New Orleans. Mr. Baker retired in 1940 after 49 years of teaching and died in 1942 while a new school for the African American Community (Baker Center) was constructed. The school remained segregated until 1964 when Charlotte County Schools were integrated.

1896

A larger school is built on Goldstein Street. The school was filled to capacity with an enrollment of 91 males and 87 females.

1907

Punta Gorda Grammar & High School opens with an enrollment of 150 students. Overcrowding forced construction of a new school on Taylor Street in 1911.

1921

Charlotte County's modern era begins when DeSoto County is divided into 5 parts. The first bridge across Charlotte Harbor is constructed and schools begin bussing students from rural communities to the Junior High in Port Charlotte and combined schools in Punta Gorda. Six busses operated on a budget of $30.00 per semester, per student.

1926

Bussing increased Punta Gorda enrollment to 1,000 and forced construction of Charlotte High School. Charlotte County teacher salaries were reported as the highest in the State of Florida at $615.00 for teachers in a two room school to $933.00 in schools with 10 or more rooms.
As the Great Depression made its way into Charlotte County, the school year was reduced to 7 months and teachers often received promissory notes for items like food and clothing from local merchants rather than a paycheck.

1937

Sallie Jones, one of the original 21 teachers assigned to Charlotte High School, is appointed the first female superintendent of schools in the State of Florida. Ms. Jones served 16 years as superintendent. She created the first school lunchrooms and set the standard that all teachers had to be professionally certified. Ms. Jones retired in 1953 after 31 years as an educator.

1950

Two large residential developers (General Development Corporation and Punta Gorda Isles Development Corporation) spur Southwest Florida growth and force the expansion of the district. New schools are built in rapid succession as can be seen below.

2007

2008

New rebuilt Peace River Elementary opens in January.
New rebuilt East Elementary opens in November.
New rebuilt Punta Gorda Middle Schools opens in August.

2009

New rebuilt Charlotte high School (3-story building) opens in April.
Charlotte High School Buildings B and C, and the Auxillary Gym opens in August.

2010

Charlotte High School Buildings G & F (Media Center/ScienceLabs/Tech Labs/Art Classrooms) Opened in August.
Received Federal Stimulus Funds through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for the rebuilding of Meadow Park Elementary School and Lemon Bay High School.

2011

New rebuilt Meadow Park Elementary School opens in August.
New rebuilt Lemon Bay High School Gymnasium opens in August.

2012

New rebuilt Lemon Bay High School Three-Story opens in January.
New rebuilt Punta Gorda Center M&O opens in September.
New rebuilt Lemon Bay High School Champs Café opens in December

2014

New rebuilt Lemon Bay High School Administration & Media Center opens in May.

School Public Accountability Reports

Florida's School Public Accountability Reports have been generated to comply with federal legislation that requires annual report cards on the educational progress of schools, school districts, and the state. These reports are initially published prior to the beginning of the school year. The School Public Accountability Report contains several types of data (indicators) designed to inform parents and the general public about the progress of Florida's public schools. This report meets public reporting requirements and provides certain additional information of interest on the status of Florida's schools.

Superintendent

Steve Dionisio

Steve Dionisio has been a resident of Charlotte County since 1979 and is a Port Charlotte High School graduate. Mr. Dionisio earned his Bachelor's Degree from Florida State University in Family, Child and Consumer Sciences and earned his Master's Degree from Nova Southeastern University in Educational Leadership. He began his career in education as a teacher at Murdock Middle School and has served as the Dean of Students at The Academy, Assistant Principal at Port Charlotte High School, Principal of Port Charlotte High School, and Assistant Superintendent for Learning. He was appointed Superintendent of Schools in October 2015. Steve and his wife, Tina, have two children, Nick and Haley.

Staff Directory

School & Community Relations Office Location

Statement of Non-Discrimination

The School Board shall comply with all federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and with all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. No administrative, instructional, staff member or candidate for such a position in this District shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, transgender status, or gender identity), age, gender, pregnancy, marital status, disability, or legally-protected characteristic, be discriminated against, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to, discrimination in any program or activity for which the Board is responsible or for which it receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

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